Bore location system

• US 6,717,410 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mizuno, Morio
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aurora, Geena
• Application Number:
  US10/437,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326, 324/66, 324/67, 324/207--20, 324/226, 324/227, 324/202, 324/225, 324/239, 324/329, 324/345, 324/61, 175/62, 175/45, 340/853.3, 340/853.4, 340/853.6, 343/718, 343/719
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A system for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface includes a transmitting source that radiates from the bore a dipole magnetic field aligned with the bore. A receiver includes a first and a second coil, the axis of each coil being orthogonal to the axis of the other. A measurement device in communication with the coils is configured to measure the phase of signals induced in the coils by the magnetic field when the axis of the first coil is horizontally perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field and the axis of the second coil is vertically perpendicular to the axis of the magnetic field. The measurement device determines the lateral position of the transmitting source relative to the coils responsively to the phase of the signals induced on the two coils.

Claims

1. A system for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface, said system comprising:

a transmitting source configured to radiate a magnetic field from said bore;

a receiver remote from said transmitting source and having a plurality of coils disposed so that each said coil occupies a predetermined operative position with respect to a horizontal plane when said receiver is disposed in a first position with respect to said horizontal plane and so that at least one first said coil moves into said operative position of a second said coil when said receiver is rotated to a second position with respect to said horizontal plane;

a processor; and

a control circuit in communication with said coils to receive signals on said coils induced by said magnetic field and in communication with said processor to output said signals to said processor, wherein said control circuit is configured to detect said position of said receiver and to replace said signal of said second coil output by said control circuit to said processor with said signal of said first coil when said control circuit detects that said receiver is in said second position.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of said first coils.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second position of said receiver is 90°

offset from said first position of said receiver.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a tilt switch.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a multiplexer through which said signals are directed between said coils and said processor.

6. The system as in claim 5, wherein said control circuit includes a tilt switch that outputs a signal to said processor that changes state between said first position of said receiver and said second position of said receiver, and wherein said processor controls said multiplexer responsively to said tilt switch signal so that, when said tilt switch signal is in a first said state, said multiplexer directs said signal of said first coil to a first multiplexer output and directs said signal of said second coil to a second multiplexer output and, when said tilt switch signal is in a second said state, moves said signal of said first coil to said second multiplexer output.

7. A system for locating a horizontal bore below a ground surface, said system comprising:

a transmitting source configured to radiate a magnetic field from said bore;

a receiver remote from said transmitting source and having a plurality of coils disposed so that each said coil occupies a predetermined operative position with respect to a horizontal plane when said receiver is disposed in a first position with respect to said horizontal plane and so that at least one first said coil moves into said operative position of a second said coil when said receiver is rotated to a second position with respect to said horizontal plane, wherein each said coil defines an axis orthogonal to said axis of each other said coil;

a processor; and

a control circuit in communication with said coils to receive signals on said coils induced by said magnetic field and in communication with said processor to output said signals to said processor, wherein said control circuit includes a tilt switch that outputs a signal to said processor that changes state between said first position of said receiver and said second position of said receiver and wherein said control circuit is configured to replace said signal of said second coil output by said control circuit to said processor with said signal of said first coil when said control circuit detects that said receiver is in said second position.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of said first coils.